Moose Bay Lake in Thunder Bay District: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, this is Moose Bay Lake. The bank is 432 metres above sea level. It measures about 56 hectares, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. At about 6.2 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is high ground by Ontario standards. Some 72 km away sits Atikokan, the nearest settlement. For a city, Thunder Bay is 126 km off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Moose Bay Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Thunder Bay District include cisco, blackfin cisco, rainbow smelt, bloater and shortjaw cisco. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Moose Bay Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 18°C in July and bottom out at -16°C in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Moose Bay Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. One rod, a handful of hooks and floats, and a few small lures are enough for this water. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Saganagons Lake, 2.7 km away. Nothing on Moose Bay Lake should be assumed from this page alone.